Yogic Pranayama may help Reduce IOP in Open-Angle Glaucoma: Study

It was a prospective, randomized trial in 90 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The researchers randomly assigned the patients to receive either the control or yogic pranayama and diaphragmatic breathing exercise group. They advised patients to practice yogic pranayama and diaphragmatic breathing daily for 6 months in the intervention group. They measured the intraocular pressure at presentation and subsequently after 1, 3, and 6 months.

Key findings of the study were:

• Upon analysis, the researchers found that compared with the wait-list group, the yogic pranayama and diaphragmatic breathing exercise group had significantly lowered intraocular pressure

♦ Right eye: 20.85±3.39 to 14.90±2.86 mm Hg;

♦ Left eye: 20.30±4.12 to 14.25±3.85 mm Hg.

The authors concluded, "Yogic pranayama and diaphragmatic breathing exercises can reduce intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and can therefore be recommended as an adjuvant therapy."

For further information:

https://journals.lww.com/glaucomajournal/Abstract/2021/02000/Yogic_Pranayama_and_Diaphragmatic_Breathing_.1.aspx